Improvement in seeding-machines



J LAWSON.

Corn-Planter.

Patented Dec. 29, 1857.

N. PETERS, PHOTOUTHOGRAPHER. wAsmNGToN. 0 CV UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES LAWSON, OF LAWVRENOE, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT'IN SEEDlNG-MACHINES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 18,978. dated December 29,1857.

2. Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section of same, taken in the line 3 3 Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section of one side of same, taken in the line z 2, Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is an end view of the device by which the hollow shaft is connected with the internal one. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section of same. Fig. 6 is a detached vertical section of one of the furrow-wheels.

Similar letters of reference indicate correspondin g partsin the several figures.

This invention consists in a marking device arranged and operated conjointly with the seed-distributin g device in a peculiar manner, whereby themarking of the hills and dropping of the seed may be regulated as desired.

To enable those skilled in the art to fully understand and construct myinvention, I will proceed to describe it.

A represents a rectangular frame, which is mounted on Wheels B B, the bearings of the frame A being at the lower ends of pendent plates 0 C, which are attached one ateach side of the frame, so as to elevate the same to a necessary height. The wheels B B are permanently attached to their axle D, so that all will rotate together.

E is a hollow or tubular shaft, which is placed on the axle D. This shaft is placed looselyon.

the axle D, but may be secured thereto by means of nuts a, placed on each end of it, the ends of 'the shaft being of slightly-tapered form and slotted longitudinally fora short distance, as shown at b, and having a screwthread cut on them to receive the nuts a. (See Figs. 4 and 5.) By screwing up or unscrewing the. nuts a the ends of the shaft F may be made to press more or less hard upon the axle D, as occasion mayrequire. The object of this manner of connecting the shaft E with axle D will be hereinafter explained.

F is a rectangular frame, which is fitted within the frame A, and is hung upon a shaft, G, so that it may swing therein or have a certain degree of playor movement on said shaft.

To the front end of the frame F a seed-box, H, is attached. This box projects downward from the frame F and is provided with three compartments, (1 cl (1, each one of which hasa perforated slide, I, at its bottom, by the reciprocating motion of which the seed is allowed to pass down intermittingly in suitable quantities into spouts or tubes J into the furrows. This distributing device is well-known and in common use, and therefore does not require to be minutely described.

To the lower and back side of the seed-box H projecting plates 0 are attached. These plates form bearings for a shaft, K, on which the arms L are placed loosely, so that their outer ends may rise and fall freely, one arm being allowed to work or move independently of the other.

To the outer endof each arm L an axis, f, is attached, and a wheel, M, is fitted on each. These wheels may be ofauy proper dimensions, and their edges or peripheries are grooved in double-V form, as shown fully at g in Fig. 6. The outer ends of the arms L are bentor curved upward, and each has a projection or clearer, IL, attached, which passes within the grooves, the projections or clearers being short bars corresponding inversely in form with the grooves g, as shown clearly in Fig. 6.

To one side of each wheel, M, a circular projecting flange, z, is attached. These flanges prevent the wheels from sinking within the ground beyond a certain distance. A seed conveying spout, J, is directly behind each wheel M, and a curved bar, N, is fitted 011 one end of each axis f. These arms are fitted loosely on the axis, and extend back of the wheels M and seed tubes or spouts J, serving as covering-shares.

The plates 6 also serve as bearings for a shaft, 0, which has armsj attached. These arms are connected by links or bars It with the slides I, and two of the arms j, one at each end of the shaft 0, are of right-angular form, theirlower horizontal parts extending outward, so as to be acted upon by pins l l, which are attached to cams I? P on the hollow shaft E. The shape or form of the cams I l is plainly shown in Fig.1, and they actuate plates or bars Q Q, which are attached to springs R It,

r the flanges t controlling the depth. The wheels point by means of the clearers h, as plainly one at each side of the frame A, the springs R causing the lower ends of the plates or bars to bear upon the cams P. The bars Q are bent in right-angular form, and to the outer ends of their upper horizontal parts vertical bars S S are attached, one to each. (See Figs. 2 and 3.) The lower parts of the bars Q are jointed, as shown at m, and their upper parts pass through slots n in the plates 0.

T is a shaft placed in the frame A transversely, and having a toothed wheel, U, on it, said wheel gearing into a'pinion', V, on the hollow shaft E. W is the drivers seat, placed on the back part of frame A. The front part or frame F is heavier than the back part, and the back part is prevented from being unduly elevated by means of a projecting plate, 0, on its back part.

The operation is as follows: As the machine is drawn along the wheels M form the furrows as they penetrate the earth a certain distance,

M, in consequence of being grooved, as shown, take up a portion of earth, the earth being retained therein in consequence of their double- V form, said earth being carried around in the grooves and discharged therefrom ata proper shown in Fig. 1. The slides I are operated in a reciprocating manner in consequence of the pins l striking the ends of the lower horizontal portions of the arms j, and the seed passes down through the tubes J into the furrows behind the wheels M, the seed being covered by the shares or bars N. As each arm L has an independent movement or attachment to the shaft K it will be seen that each wheel may rise and fall, corresponding to the undulations of the ground, without afl'ecting the other.

The distributing device may be thrown out of gear at any time, the driver merely stepping on the back part of the frame F, thereby raising the front part and throwing the arms j beyond the reach of the pins Z. The cams P and springs R actuate the bars Q, Q S S, the latter rising and falling, and as they fall marking the ground, so that the hills or spots where the seed was dropped may be designated, and the operation of the slides I and bars S may be regulated, as desired, by placing the foot on the wheel U,so that the shaft E may be retarded or stopped, said shaft, it being understood, being rotated in consequence of being connected to the axle D by the pressure of its ends upon the axle produced by turning the nuts a.

I do not claim the wheels M, for forming the furrows, for they have been previously used; nor do I claim the two frames A F, arranged as shown, for they also have been previously used; but,

Having thus described my invention, what 1 claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

Operating the marking device formed of the bars S S and the slides I by means of the cams P, with pins 1 attached, when said cams are placed'on the hollow shaft E, which encompasses the axle D, and is connected therewith by means of the nuts to, fitted 0n the slotted ends of shaft E, whereby the dropping and 'markin g devices may be regulated, as desired.

JAMES LAWSON.

Witnesses:

GEo. W. BENSON, HENRY I'IOGHTON. 

